Georgia O’Keeffe was one of the most original painters America has ever produced. Her vivid visual vocabulary—sensuous flowers, bleached bones against red sky and earth—has had a profound and lasting influence on American art in this century.

Renowned for her fierce independence, iron determination, and unique artistic vision, O’Keeffe had a personal mystique as intriguing and enduring as her bold, brilliant canvasses. Here is a full account of her exceptional life—from her girlhood and early days as a controversial art teacher, to her discovery by the pioneering photographer of the New York avant-garde Alfred Stieglitz, to her seclusion in the New Mexico desert, where she lived until her death. Here also is the story of a great romance—between the extraordinary painter and her much older mentor, lover, and husband, Stieglitz.

Quotes & Awards

“What a personality emerges from these pages! Lisle provides us with fascinating details of the sort that immediately give life to her subject…Portrait of an Artist is filled with riches, and nearly every remark of Georgia O’Keeffe’s is worth recording.”

Joyce Carol Oates, New York Times bestselling author

“Portrait of an Artist is a sensitive and beautifully documented biography. It moved me deeply—I can’t remember when a book involved me so totally.”

Patricia Bosworth, New York Times bestselling author

“Laurie Lisle has given us a mortal Georgia O’Keeffe, whose human hunger and frailties, gifts and strengths, enabled her to survive—triumphantly—a conflicted life. Many readers will draw encouragement and even inspiration from this portrait.”

Eleanor Munro, author of Originals: American Women Artists

“An excellent portrait of a nearly legendary figure.”

San Francisco Chronicle

“Readers will welcome what Lisle has found. The woman who emerges has extraordinary personal stature, artistic gifts, commitment to her vision.”

Chicago Tribune

“Portrait of an Artist is a superb piece of work in every respect. Not only does it document the full scope to date of this remarkable twentieth century life but it does so directly, simply, and objectively…Clearly journalist Lisle has scooped the art world with an impressive literary debut.”

Smithsonian

“Portrait of an Artist is in many ways a remarkably informative book. Through interviews with O’Keeffe’s friends and acquaintances, by delving into the published an unpublished sources and letters, Lisle has created a vivid and sensitive portrait of O’Keeffe as an artist and woman…she gives a fine and poignant accounting of the relationship between O’Keeffe and Stieglitz…Above and beyond the personal portrait, Lisle’s biography is a marvelous evocation of the American places that have been important in the development of O’Keeffe’s character and her art.”

Saturday Review

“This O’Keeffe will shock as much as amuse, chill as much as inspire.”

Christian Science Monitor

“Portrait of an Artist is the most comprehensive biography of Georgia O’Keeffe to date. Her life story, that of a pioneer in the modernist movement, an independent woman in a prefeminist age, and the true peer of her life partner, is remarkable. And art critic Laurie Lisle tells it ably.”

Goodreads.com

Listener Opinions

Diana | 2/18/2014

" I enjoyed learning about O'Keefe and her husband, the famous art photographer, Stieglitz. The book is thoroughly researched, and fairly well-written. O'Keefe lived into her 90's, so it is a long story, and it sometimes felt repetitive. I would have loved for the book to have examples of the artwork that was described--I ended up going to the library to look at art books. Overall, it was a pretty engrossing read. "

Nancy | 2/18/2014

" This book turned me on to biographies. "

Ispyfred | 2/12/2014

" I wanted to know more about the enigmatic Georgia O'Keeffe after a recent trip to Santa Fe. While not terribly compelling in its writing style, this book is a thorough biography of the timeline of the artist's life. Her unique personality does emerge and with it a better understanding of a legendary talent and a person whom can easily be said to have led an exceptional life. "

Madeleine | 2/5/2014

" The writing is not exactly engaging, but O'Keefe's story is incredibly inspiring and keeps you reading. I gave up half-way, but plan to pick this book up again one day if I feel up for slogging through Lisle's dissertation-like prose. Or maybe not. "

Caralee | 2/3/2014

" i loved it and it was one of the MOST true stores of her life , and i belive it was written by a friend of her's "

Fictionista Du Jour | 1/29/2014

" I always have a hard time slugging through non fiction, but this was a solid read, and I found out that O'Keeffe was more than just a painter of Freudian images.... "

Ann | 1/28/2014

" O'Keefe lived for almost 100 years - nearly a third of the existence of the United States - and learning about her life, from the prarie to the South to New York and then to nearly 40 years Out West is a fascinating commentary on the very short history of this country...plus, she was way ahead of her time intellectually and I love her work! "

Jim Labay | 1/27/2014

" Interesting woman, interesting story. Great read. "

Becky | 1/19/2014

" I thought this was a wonderful biography of O'Keefe... "

Gniven | 1/16/2014

" I read this while majoring in art, after seeing her work in an art history book. She became one of my favorite artists and have since traveled to see her works on exhibit. "

Kim | 1/5/2014

" Excellent Bio on an amazing woman. Well worth the read. "

Pamela | 12/28/2013

" I really enjoyed this book. I read another book about Georgia O'Keeffe but it was more about her art then her life as was the book I read about Alfred Steigliz. This was a great book about her life. "

Roxanne | 12/27/2013

" Georgia O'Keefe relished being odd "

Misty | 12/23/2013

" Interesting and entertaining; I am falling in love with Georgia O/Keeffe's independence and moxie. The deeper I get into this biography the more I want to pick up a paintbrush! "

Gina | 12/15/2013

" I'm enjoying re-reading my old paperback, first read in 1990. With the recent Lifetime movie, I want to re-visit the facts of this influential artist's life as well as remembering visiting places in beloved New Mexico associated with her. "

Kara | 12/8/2013

" My favorite artist. She was a leader for women in her time, an inspiration. "

Cyndie Todd | 6/6/2013

" If you are a Georgia O'Keefe fan, you have probably already read this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who admires the artist and wants to understand her better. "

Maureen | 6/6/2013

" Wonderful insight into Georgia O'Keeffe life - somewhat of an early women's libber. "

Janice | 5/29/2013

" Georgia O'Keefe is one of my favorite artists. Her eye is exceptional and her use of light and color extraordinary. This biography captures her well. "

Jane Campbell | 10/13/2012

" Loved learning more about painting and about the times when MS O'Keefe lived. "

Alan | 9/19/2012

" I keep reading books about O'Keeffe, and except for Miss O'Keeffe, none of them really stick with me. Have made trips to see the exhibit in Washington, and several times to Santa Fe museum; lots of reproductions hanging on the walls. "

Kerry | 8/4/2012

" Thoroughly detailed but somewhat lifeless look at Georgia O'Keeffe's life and work. It would have been better with more reproductions of the artwork. "

Beth | 6/21/2012

" Very good writing. Georgia O'Keefe wasn't a very nice person, but everyone let her get away with it because she was an awesome artist. I have many, many things in common with her. "

Traci | 5/16/2012

" I knew practically nothing about Georgia O'Keeffe when starting this. This biography is rough and perhaps a little exhaustive at times, but it does give a pretty good picture of O'Keeffe's life and work. "

Robwlyn | 5/15/2012

" I enjoyed this biography. If you are interested in the art world at that time and curious bout he lif as a whole, this was an interesting read. "

Mandy | 10/3/2011

" The story is good, but the writing is dry. "

Robin | 6/6/2011

" Very good. Very detailed history. Enjoyed it "

Jane | 5/5/2011

" Loved learning more about painting and about the times when MS O'Keefe lived.
"

Beth | 3/26/2011

" Very good writing. Georgia O'Keefe wasn't a very nice person, but everyone let her get away with it because she was an awesome artist. I have many, many things in common with her.
"

Traci | 10/1/2010

" I knew practically nothing about Georgia O'Keeffe when starting this. This biography is rough and perhaps a little exhaustive at times, but it does give a pretty good picture of O'Keeffe's life and work.
"

Madeleine | 9/26/2010

" The writing is not exactly engaging, but O'Keefe's story is incredibly inspiring and keeps you reading. I gave up half-way, but plan to pick this book up again one day if I feel up for slogging through Lisle's dissertation-like prose. Or maybe not.
"

Robin | 11/6/2009

" Very good. Very detailed history. Enjoyed it
"

Gina | 9/27/2009

" I'm enjoying re-reading my old paperback, first read in 1990. With the recent Lifetime movie, I want to re-visit the facts of this influential artist's life as well as remembering visiting places in beloved New Mexico associated with her.
"

Nancy | 9/16/2009

" This book turned me on to biographies.
"

Kerry | 8/29/2009

" Thoroughly detailed but somewhat lifeless look at Georgia O'Keeffe's life and work. It would have been better with more reproductions of the artwork.
"

Maureen | 8/1/2009

" Wonderful insight into Georgia O'Keeffe life - somewhat of an early women's libber.
"

Becky | 7/31/2009

" I thought this was a wonderful biography of O'Keefe...
"

Alan | 1/16/2008

" I keep reading books about O'Keeffe, and except for Miss O'Keeffe, none of them really stick with me. Have made trips to see the exhibit in Washington, and several times to Santa Fe museum; lots of reproductions hanging on the walls.
"

About the Author

Laurie Lisle is the author of Without Child: Challenging the Stigma of Childlessness and Louise Nevelson: A Passionate Life. She lectures widely on O’Keeffe and writes essays, articles, and book reviews for various publications. She lives with her husband in northwestern Connecticut and Westchester County, New York.

About the Narrator

Grace Conlin (1962–1997) was the recording name of Grainne Cassidy, an award-winning actress and acclaimed narrator. She was a member of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, DC, and won a Helen Hayes Award in 1988 for her role in Woolly Mammoth’s production of Savage in Limbo.

[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.